Basketball Training Device

ABSTRACT

A basketball training device allows a player to practice shooting and rebounding a basketball. The device includes a pole. A tether is positioned in and extends through an interior of the pole. A free end of the tether extends otuwardly of the pole. A ball is removably attached to the free end of the tether. A ball coupler releasably couples the ball to the free end of the tether. A backboard system is coupled to the pole. The backboard system includes a backboard, a hoop coupled to and extending outwardly from a front side of the backboard and a net coupled to and extending downwardly from the hoop.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to sports equipment assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new sports equipment assembly for allowing a player to practice shooting and rebounding a basketball.

2. Summary of the Disclosure

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a pole. A tether is positioned in and extends through an interior of the pole.

A free end of the tether extends otuwardly of the pole. A ball is removably attached to the free end of the tether. A ball coupler releasably couples the ball to the free end of the tether. A backboard system is coupled to the pole. The backboard system includes a backboard, a hoop coupled to and extending outwardly from a front side of the backboard and a net coupled to and extending downwardly from the hoop.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top rear side perspective view of a basketball training device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top front side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-section of a ball of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new sports equipment assembly embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the basketball training device 10 generally comprises a pole 12. An upper section 14 of the pole 12 is arcuately curved. A height of the pole 12 may be telescopically adjustable. A sleeve 16 extends around the pole 12. The pole 12 is rotatable within the sleeve 16. One of the sleeve 16 and the pole 12 has a plurality of aligned apertures 18 positioned therein. One of the sleeve 16 and the pole 12 has a hole 20 positioned therein. A fastener 22, such as a locking pin or other conventional fastener, is extendable through the hole 20 and a selectable one of the apertures 18 to engage each of the sleeve 16 and the pole 12 for retaining the pole 12 in a static position relative to the sleeve 16. A cushion 24 is attached to the pole. The cushion 24 extends around a circumference of the pole 12. A connector 26 releasably holds the cushion 24 in a closed loop orientation around the pole 12. The connector 26 may comprise a hook and loop coupler, snaps or the like.

A base 28 has a top surface 30. A bottom end 32 of the pole 12 is attached to the top surface 30 of the base 28. The base 28 may be constructed from hard rubber or like material. The pole 12 may be offset from a center of the base 28. A plurality of wheels 34 is attached to the base 28. The wheels 34 are configured to facilitate movement of the device 10 on a supporting surface. A socket 36 extends into the top surface 30 of the base 28. The pole 12 is removably positioned within the socket 36. The socket 36 may be lined with a metal, such as iron, steel or the like.

A tether 38 is positioned in and extends through an interior of the pole 12. The tether 38 is retractable into and out of the pole 12. A free end 40 of the tether 38 extends outwardly of the pole 12. A reel 42 is positioned within the interior of the pole 12. The tether 38 is rotatably coupled to the reel 42 to store the tether 38 in a coiled manner on the reel 42 in a generally conventional manner. A resistance level of the tether 38 may be selected by the user. A counter 76 is positioned on the pole 12 and is operationally coupled to the tether 38 in a conventional manner to indicate a number of times that the tether 38 is pulled downwardly out of the pole 12. In this manner, the counter 76 indicates the quantity of rebounds performed using the device 10.

A ball 44 is attachable to the free end 40 of the tether 38 to allow the ball 44 to be suspended above a ground surface. A covering 45, which may be constructed from a thick material, such as leather or the like, may be positioned around the ball 44. An outer surface 47 of the covering 45 may include line indicia 49 so that the ball 44 resembles a conventional sports ball, such as a basketball, volleyball or the like. A ball coupler 46 releasably couples the ball 44 to the free end 40 of the tether 38. The ball coupler includes a first strap 48 coupled to the ball 44 and a first strap ring 50 coupled to the first strap 48. A pair of openings 51, 53 is positioned in the first strap 48. The first strap ring 50 extends through each of the openings 51, 53 of the first strap 48. A second strap ring 52 may also be provided and attached to both the first strap ring 50 and the free end 40 of the tether 38. It should be understood that only one of the first 50 and second 52 strap rings would need to be used. However, to better distribute weight exerted on the first strap 48, it is desirable that both the first 50 and second 52 strap rings be used. A second strap 54 may also be provided and coupled to the ball 44. The second strap 54 may extend though a central hole 55 positioned in the first strap ring 50. Portions of each of the first strap 48 and the second strap 54 may be sewn to the ball 44.

A backboard system 56 may be removably coupled to the pole 12. The backboard system 56 includes a backboard 58, a hoop 60 coupled to and extending outwardly from a front side 62 of the backboard 58 and a net 64 coupled to and extending downwardly from the hoop 60. The backboard 58 is positioned perpendicularly relative to the upper section 14 of the pole 12. The backboard 58 is attached to a front side 66 of the pole 12 such that the backboard 58 is positioned in front of the upper section 14 of the pole 12. The backboard 58 may be constructed from acylic, fiberglass or the like. A backboard coupler 68 releasably couples the backboard 58 to the pole 12. The backboard coupler 68 comprises a first mating member 70 coupled to a rear side 72 of the backboard 58 and a second mating member 74 coupled to the pole 12. The first 70 and second 74 mating members of the backboard coupler 68 are complementary relative to each other wherein the first 70 and second 74 mating members of the backboard coupler 68 are selectively engageable to releasably couple the backboard 58 to the pole 12.

The pole 12 may have a circumference between approximately 15.0 cm and 35.0 cm. The telescopic nature of the pole 12 allows the height of the pole 12 to measure between approximately 150.0 cm and 460.0 cm. The upper section 14 of the pole 12 may have a length between approximately 40.0 cm and 75.0 cm. The base 28 may have a length between approximately 100.0 cm and 140.0 cm; a width between approximately 65.0 cm and 100.0 cm; and a thickness between approximately 8.0 cm and 15.0 cm.

In use, as stated above and shown in the Figures, the ball 44 is attached to the free end 40 of the tether 38. The pole 12 is extended or retracted to position the ball 44 at a desired height relative to the ground surface. Preferably, the ball 44 should be positioned above the heads of the players. A player pulls the ball 44 downwardly such that the tether 38 retracts outwardly of the interior of the pole 12. This allows the player to practice rebounding the ball 44. After the player releases the ball 44, the tether 38 retracts into the interior of the pole 12 such that the ball 44 returns to its starting position. Alternatively, the player can use a volleyball for the ball 44 and can practice spiking the ball 44. The tether 38 will allow the ball 44 to return to its starting position after the ball 44 is struck by the player. The ball 44 can also be detached from the tether 38 to allow the player to practice shooting the ball 44 into the net 64.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. A basketball training device comprising: a pole; a tether positioned in and extending through an interior of said pole, a free end of said tether extending outwardly of said pole; a ball removably attached to said free end of said tether; a ball coupler releasably coupling said ball to said free end of said tether; and a backboard system coupled to said pole, said backboard system including a backboard, a hoop coupled to and extending outwardly from a front side of said backboard and a net coupled to and extending downwardly from said hoop.
 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a base having a top surface, a bottom end of said pole being attached to said top surface of said base.
 3. The device of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of wheels attached to said base, said wheels being configured to facilitate movement of said device on a supporting surface.
 4. The device of claim 1, further comprising wherein said ball coupler includes; a first strap coupled to said ball; a first strap ring coupled to said first strap; and a pair of openings positioned in said first strap, said first strap ring extending through each of said openings of said first strap.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein said ball coupler further includes a second strap ring attached to and positioned between each of said first strap ring and said free end of said tether.
 6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a height of said pole being telescopically adjustable.
 7. The device of claim 6, further comprising: a sleeve extending around said pole; one of said sleeve and said pole having a plurality of aligned apertures positioned therein; one of said sleeve and said pole having a hole positioned therein; and a fastener being extendable through said hole and a selectable one of said apertures to engage each of said sleeve and said pole for retaining said pole in a static position relative to said sleeve.
 8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a cushion being attached to said pole.
 9. The device of claim 8, further comprising: said cushion extending around a circumference of said pole; and a connector releasably holding said cushion in a closed loop orientation around said pole.
 10. The device of claim 1, further comprising an upper section of said pole being arcuately curved.
 11. The device of claim 7, further comprising said pole being rotatable within said sleeve.
 12. The device of claim 1, further comprising: said backboard system being removably coupled to said pole; and a backboard coupler releasably coupling said backboard to said pole.
 13. The device of claim 12, further comprising said backboard coupler comprising a first mating member coupled to a rear side of said backboard and a second mating member coupled to said pole, said first and second mating members of said backboard coupler being complementary relative to each other wherein said first and second mating members of said backboard coupler are selectively engageable to releasably couple said backboard to said pole.
 14. The device of claim 2, further comprising said pole being offset from a center of said base.
 15. The device of claim 10, further comprising said backboard being positioned perpendicularly relative to said upper section of said pole, said backboard being attached to a front side of said pole such that said backboard is positioned in front of said upper section of said pole.
 16. The device of claim 1, further comprising: said tether being retractable into and out of said pole; and a reel positioned within said interior of said pole, said tether being rotatably coupled to said reel to store said tether in a coiled manner on said reel.
 17. The device of claim 2, further comprising a socket extending into said top surface of said base, said pole being removably positioned within said socket.
 18. The device of claim 1, further comprising a covering positioned around said ball.
 19. The device of claim 4, further comprising wherein said ball coupler further includes a second strap coupled to said ball, said second strap extending through a central hole positioned in said first strap ring.
 20. A basketball training device comprising: a pole, a height of said pole being telescopically adjustable, an upper section of said pole being arcuately curved; a sleeve extending around said pole, said pole being rotatable within said sleeve; wherein one of said sleeve and said pole has a plurality of aligned apertures positioned therein; wherein one of said sleeve and said pole has a hole positioned therein; a fastener being extendable through said hole and a selectable one of said apertures to engage each of said sleeve and said pole for retaining said pole in a static position relative to said sleeve; a cushion being attached to said pole, said cushion extending around a circumference of said pole; a connector releasably holding said cushion in a closed loop orientation around said pole, said connector comprising a hook and loop coupler; a base having a top surface, a bottom end of said pole being attached to said top surface of said base, said pole being offset from a center of said base; a plurality of wheels attached to said base, said wheels being configured to facilitate movement of said device on a supporting surface; a socket extending into said top surface of said base, said pole being removably positioned within said socket; a tether positioned in and extending through an interior of said pole, said tether being retractable into and out of said pole, a free end of said tether extending outwardly of said pole; a reel positioned within said interior of said pole, said tether being rotatably coupled to said reel to store said tether in a coiled manner on said reel; a ball removably attached to said free end of said tether; a covering positioned around said ball; a ball coupler releasably coupling said ball to said free end of said tether, said ball coupler including; a first strap coupled to said ball; a first strap ring coupled to said first strap; a pair of apertures positioned in said first strap, said first strap ring extending through each of said apertures of said first strap; a second strap ring attached to and positioned between each of said first strap ring and said free end of said tether; and a second strap coupled to said ball, said second strap extending through a central hole positioned in said first strap ring; a backboard system removably coupled to said pole, said backboard system including a backboard, a hoop coupled to and extending outwardly from a front side of said backboard and a net coupled to and extending downwardly from said hoop, said backboard being positioned perpendicularly relative to said upper section of said pole, said backboard being attached to a front side of said pole such that said backboard is positioned in front of said upper section of said pole; and a backboard coupler releasably coupling said backboard to said pole, said backboard coupler comprising a first mating member coupled to a rear side of said backboard and a second mating member coupled to said pole, said first and second mating members of said backboard coupler being complementary relative to each other wherein said first and second mating members of said backboard coupler are selectively engageable to releasably couple said backboard to said pole. 